‘Bliss’
It’s been a few years since audiences have seen Owen Wilson, whose last big film was the poorly-reviewed 2017 Christmas comedy, Father Figures. But now Wilson is back with something completely different: A dreamy sci-fi drama that finds him as a broken man following around a beautiful woman (Salma Hayek) who claims they are living in a simulated reality. Written and directed by Mike Cahill (I Origins, Another Earth), this film is compelling even when it gets muddled. It helps that Wilson delivers a subtle yet heartbreaking performance; a generous scene partner to Hayek, who nails her over-the-top breakdowns. You’ll likely see the plot twist coming from a mile away, but that’s not really the point. With empathy, beauty, and grace, Bliss demonstrates how it feels to escape your bleak reality. More than that, it helps you understand why someone would choose that feeling—even if it comes at a great personal cost. Bliss is streaming on Amazon Prime now, free to subscribers.